Care to recommend me a vine?

Hello, all --

I’m looking for a vine to cover a large storage box in my front yard.  If
I’ve ever seen something that needed to be covered with vegetation, this is
it!  I originally planned on a Passiflora, but I’m told they tend to spread
by roots, which would be a problem in that area.  For temporary cover, I’ve
tried nasturtiums and stalks of a nearby old climbing rose, but it’s a bit
too shady for both of them.  Maybe an Akebia?  Any suggestions will be
gratefully investigated.

Here are the specs:

Climate -- Western Oregon, USDA zone 8, Sunset zone 6, cool Mediterranean,
a few summer days over 100F, winter lows regularly 20F, with 10F every five
years or so.  (Our wet winters are hard on some Med plants, but this vine
will be under the eaves of my house, which is moderately dry all winter, so
that shouldn’t be a problem.)

Size -- Stems need to be 10-12 feet (2-3 meters) to cover the box.  There
won’t be room for it to get much bigger.

Shade tolerance -- Lots of light, but very little direct sun.   Bright,
essentially full shade when it’s young, then a few hours of sun on parts of
it as it grows farther.

Drought tolerance -- Very, but not extremely, drought tolerant. Shade will
decrease transpiration (as recently discussed), and, once the vine is
established, I’ll give it a deep soak every 3-4 weeks, but a nearby
Liquidamber tree has dense surface roots which offer stiff competition for
water.  Plants that can go two weeks in full sun between waterings (and
tolerate shade) do well in this area.

Flexibility -- The box opens like a clam shell, so the stems of the vine
must flex a bit.  This shouldn’t be a problem as long as it’s not an
especially brittle sort.

Other desirable characteristics -- Evergreen!  Edible or decorative fruit;
fragrance (preferably spicy or herbal rather than sweet).  Medium or large
leaves, but not leathery ones -- commercial plantings around here tend
heavily toward rhododendrons (Sorry, Loretta!) and what my mother calls
‘Landlord Laurel’, and I’m they’re tiresome.

Thanks for any and all suggestions, and, for those readers in the U.S., a
happy holiday weekend with friends and family.



-- Susannah
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